Toyota / Echo / Sportivo 5-dr hatch

The Car

WHILE the Echo appearance is not what you'd call conventional, the Sportivo body enhancements give the compact a bit of attitude to go with the better-performing 1.5-litre engine. The exterior gains combative front and rear bumpers, a mesh (as opposed to cheese-grater) grille, front fog lights, black headlamp surrounds, side skirts, a chrome tailpipe extension and alloy wheels. It looks every bit an Echo, though, which means it's tall, stubby and unashamedly Eurocentric in its origin and intent, designed to be much loved and occasionally hated - just as long as it's not ignored. With the Sportivo add-ons, there's virtually no chance of that!

Did you know?

Sportivo is now Toyota Australia's official sports brand, with Sportivo Echo and Sportivo Corolla the first two purpose-built models produced under the banner